Red Lotus Loose Leaf Tea

Red Lotus Loose Leaf Tea is the rarest lotus on our shelf, the dried petals of the red water lily Nymphaea rubra, whose deep red-blue color holds into the cup. Offered from a 14 grams sampler through 1 oz, 2 oz, 4 oz and 8 oz, and by the Pound and Kilo.

At a glance

• Dried petals of the red water lily Nymphaea rubra
• Brews a wine-red to violet cup
• Carries nuciferine and aporphine plus anthocyanin pigments, no potency measured
• Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons per 8 oz of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes
• Sizes: 14 grams, 1 oz, 2 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz, Pound and Kilo

The herb. Red lotus (Nymphaea rubra) is a night-blooming water lily of the Nymphaeaceae family, native to the ponds and paddies of India, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. A close relative of blue lotus, its petals carry the alkaloids nuciferine and aporphine, and its deep color comes from anthocyanins.

What's in it. A whole dried petal tea, not an extract, with no measured potency. It carries nuciferine (the calm, body-easing side) and aporphine (the brighter, lifted side) with anthocyanin pigments, and sits between blue and white in character: earthier than white, softer than blue.

How to use. Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of petals per 8 oz of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes; water just off the boil pulls the color out best. The cup turns wine-red to violet, smooth and slightly earthy. Drink one cup and wait half an hour before a second. A squeeze of lemon shifts the color toward pink, and the petals blend with rose, hibiscus or chamomile.

What to expect. Users describe it as mellow and grounding, calm with a soft floral warmth, not a stimulant. For a concentrated form see our Red Lotus Extract, and for its paler cousin try our White Lotus flower.

Safety. Red lotus tea is mild; brewed very strong or cup after cup it can leave some people drowsy or dry-mouthed, the signal to use fewer petals next time.

• Do not combine with alcohol or sedative medications, as both can deepen the drowsy side of a water lily tea
• Not for use if pregnant or nursing; do not drive until you know your response
• For adults 21+ only; keep out of reach of children

Ingredients and storage. Dried Red Lotus petals (Nymphaea rubra). Keep in an airtight jar in a dark cupboard; the pigment is light sensitive, though the flavor lasts a year or more when kept dry.

Common questions

• What color does Red Lotus Loose Leaf Tea brew? A rich wine-red to violet, shifting toward pink if you add lemon.
• How does red lotus tea taste compared with blue lotus tea? Smoother and earthier, with less of the dreamy heaviness of blue lotus.

Disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Red lotus is a traditional botanical, and traditional use does not establish that it will produce any particular result. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you take any medication or have a medical condition. Use at your own risk and keep out of reach of children. Formulated by Healing Herbals, run by a practicing herbalist of 13+ years.